Sink It

Our downstairs bathroom has a perfectly fine vanity, the typical run of the mill ones you can find at Home Depot or Lowes.   We are indifferent to it.   While standing at it a few weeks ago I had an epiphany.  Back in the fall around the same time we moved into our new house Nick's sister got a new house as well.  Their house had an original farmhouse double sink with porcelain legs from 1938.   Due to the renovations they needed to make to their house it no longer fit in their kitchen.   As I stood at my bathroom sink I realized that the farmhouse sink would fit perfectly there!  Luckily, Nick loved the idea and his sister let us take the sink.   Having such a big double sink will be great to have in that bathroom since it's off of the mud/laundry room, making it convenient for hand washing and soaking clothes.  

It was pretty dirty from years of grime and from sitting out side for a few months.  

First I used some dish soap knowing that it wouldn't be too abrasive,  it helped clean up a lot of the sink but couldn't get rid of some of the really deep and hardened dirt.   I searched online for a few different homemade cleaners that I could make up with what I had in the house.   I found one that used equal parts cream of tartar and lemon juice, making a paste.  It worked fantastic!  It cut through the dirt so well and helped the sink sparkle!  Definitely a solution I will be trying again!   Once it was cleaned I realized the corners and lines around the sink match our vintage porcelain tub in the downstairs bathroom.  It's like the two were meant to be together!

There are still a few rust spots that I'm going to try to patch since they aren't close to the drain.   We thought about re-glazing but the rest of the sink looks so great I'm not sure if its worth it.   Next up I have to finish cleaning the legs and get it prepped to install in the bathroom.

Fall Vintage Finds

Unfortunately, due to selling our old house and getting moved in our new one we didn't make it to Todd Farm as much as we wanted this year.   However, we did cram in one visit in October after we moved in.

My favorite purchase was two owl andirons.   As soon as I saw them I was obsessed!  They are from the 1920's and made by the Rostand Manufacturing Company of Milford, CT.    Unlike many of their counterparts, ours are missing their glass eyes (which glow when the fire light hits them).   That was ok with us because I think they look almost more haunting eyeless.   We were able to snatch them up for $55 which seems like a pretty good deal since I have found many online for $250-1,000.   Even with the lack of eyes I think they are likely worth at least double what we paid.

We also found a beautiful handmade quilt.  After some research online, I believe it's a Cathedral Window pattern.  Best part was it was only $50.  It's amazing to think of the time it must have took to cut out and sew on each individual diamond shape.    Based on the fabric colors and patterns I think it would date from the 1960's but I'm not sure.    Since we have two rambunctious dogs who like to sleep on beds, we decided it would be best to display it on the wall in our 2nd guest room (future nursery one day) to keep it safe.    All we did was put up an extra long curtain rod and draped the quilt over it.   Now we just need new bedding for the bed. 

We also found a set of Pyrex Primary Color mixing bowls.   My mom has a set and I have always loved them (actually I pretty much love anything that is Pyrex).   The set was in great condition with no chips or major scratches.    The bowls are not numbered on the bottom which from what I have read may mean they are an earlier set from the 1940's.   We got them for $40 which I thought was bargain.

Lastly, we snatched up a $10 blue and white wool blanket and $25 cast iron Christmas tree stand (it came in handy with our two trees this year).   Counting down until it's flea market season again!

Spring's Vintage Finds

Last month I went to the opening weekend at Todd's Farm Flea Market.  Sadly, I have been busy almost every weekend since so I haven't been back.   I was on the hunt for a vintage, almost antique toaster.   Finally, my friend found one for me!  It was sitting on the back of a truck next to a white scale.     I asked the man selling it how much he wanted for it.   He responded that it was "near and dear to him".   My first reaction was "oh no he has some sentimental attachment to it, like it was his grandmother's, this is going to cost a lot".   He laughed after I paused for a moment and told me I could have it for $5 and he would throw in the scale.   Score!  And off I went with a toaster and a scale I didn't even know I wanted.

The toaster is from the late 1910's or early 1920's and is a General Electric Hotpoint.   Both sides open out so you can slide a piece of bread in.   It came with the original cotton cord, however I had my father in law remove it.  I found similar ones for $25 on Esty and eBay so I think I got a pretty good deal.  I still need to shine it up a bit but I love the deco style design!  I can't wait to find some more vintage toasters.

The little scale I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it at first.  I thought about trying to sell it but then I thought it would be a great plant stand, especially with a potted fern.   

I was able to find a unique looking fern on clearance at Home Depot.  Its almost moss like.  Here is how it looks together on my little round table in my living room.  I think it makes a perfect plant stand! I do still need my husband to remove the spring from the scale so the weight of the pot doesn't break it.

Winding up the light

Since we renovated our kitchen we have wanted to update the lighting.   When we first moved into our house we did remove the old 90's style canister track light and replaced it with a brushed nickel and glass light.    It served us fine but we wanted something more unique.   Originally, we were planning to make a light out of ball mason jars, yet when we came across this item at a local junk store it screamed "make me into a light fixture".    It is an antique yarn winder,  I'm guessing industrial because to be honest I haven't found anything that looks close to it on the internet.  It might not even be a yarn winder, that is just what the dealer thought.  The best part, it was only $25.

My husband was able to remove the iron rod that went through each of the winders to add the wiring, light socket and bulb.   He has become quite handy with these types of projects.  

I love how it came out, especially the interesting shadow it casts!

Dining Room Update

Wow, I can't believe it has been so many months since my last post!  In the fall I was so busy with work there wasn't a lot of time for antiquing, thrifting or blogging for that matter.  I can't wait for spring to come so I can get back out there again.  

In the meantime we did end up getting a wool braided rug from LLBean for Christmas from my parents.   While I originally wanted to get a blue/green/yellow one, my husband thought it would be too "matchy matchy".   We ended up going one with red, greens and touches of yellow and blues.  It helps add some other colors into the room.  We love it so much we are saving up to buy another braided rug for our living room.

Here is the whole dining room put together with the chairs we painted and upholstered ourselves, the Brimfield table (with one leaf in) and our vintage hutch.  

Sunday Morning Antiquing - July 15th

Last Sunday we went over to Todd Farm, in hopes of finding two more dining room chairs.   We left empty handed as far as chairs but did find this mint green shabby chic shelf with two ornate cast iron brackets.   I actually found the same brackets on ebay for five times what we paid for the shelf so I think I got a pretty good deal.

After Todd Farm we stopped at another nearby flea market/ antique store.  One of the vendors was having a 40% moving sale in the antique store so we scored two great finds.    We also saw a chair there that would have been perfect for our dining room table, it almost matched the style of the other chairs we have purchased - plus it was only $8 on sale!  Unfortunately, there was only one not two so we passed.   

My husband really loved this metal and glass lantern.  Not sure where we can put it yet, we were thinking of taking the outdoors in and hanging it in our guest bedroom.

Lastly, we purchased this sweet little rocking horse wooden hanging.  I think it would be so charming in a nursery someday.  I was even thinking you could paint the baby's name on it.

Dining Room chairs - Before and After

Now that we have the four chairs spray painted for our new dining room table, we have been looking for fabric to reupholster the seats with.   The chairs originally had a stained and worn beige and what I would call "dusty" rose color floral pattern fabric, definitely not pretty.

We narrowed down to our three favorites (all from JoAnn Fabrics):


Waverly Carino / Buttercup - Definitely one of my favorites.  It also comes in blue which would work well with two yellow end chairs.  However it might be a bit too much of a mustard yellow. 

Waverly Porch Swinger / Chambray - The stripe is classic,  love how it's called Porch Swinger.  The blue matches almost perfectly to the chair.

Waverly Language Of The Garden Ballroom Plaid - I really like the plaid but the blues look a bit off and it might be slightly a too country kitsch for my taste.

We ended up going with a pattern very similar to Waverly's Porch Swinger and we love it. 

We spent yesterday upholstering two of the four chairs (one of the wooden seats is cracked so we need the 3rd chair as a sample to trace a new seat seat).   I have never upholstered anything in my life so it definitely was an newbies's attempt.  Not perfect but I think overall a vast improvement to how the chairs looked before.   The fabric was exactly what we were looking for and just so happens to almost match the fabric on the Country Living cover that was my inspiration!

Four Chairs Down... Two More to Go.

Ever since we found the white distressed dining room table at Brimfield we have been on the hunt for chairs.   A few weeks ago as my husband was returning from a day of fishing in Newburyport when he spotted 4 vintage chairs at a yard sale.  The chairs were exactly what we were looking for.   They were not too ornate or to large (we have a very small dining room).   The best part was the claw and ball front legs!

I had just received my June issue of Country Living and the cover image became our inspiration.   We wanted to bring some color into the room so we decided to go with a slate blue similar to the one on the cover.   We still need to find two end chairs, which we plan on spray painting yellow.    I have also been looking at fabric to reupholster.    

via Country Living

The table we purchased at Brimfield.

Weekend Laundry and Cooking

A few weeks ago I went home to see my parents for Father's Day weekend.    My mom and I of course had to do some shopping.   She took me to this adorable consignment store in town.  The whole store is set up as if it was a living room/ dining room with items laid out on coffee tables and end tables. There were couches with pillows and blankets and hutches filled with dishes and vases.   It was so fun to look around because everything almost blended in so you wanted to make sure you didn't miss anything.

As soon as I saw this antique laundry drying rack I loved it.    I actually wasn't quite sure at first what it was.  It was in excellent condition and has this very ornate detail on the hinge and brass caps at the end of each wood rod.    I have looked on ebay and esty and found similar ones that were not as ornate or in as good of shape.   I'm thinking of putting it in my laundry room once we refinish it or my dad suggested it would look nice in our bathroom.

The drying rack is stamped with a patent date of Sept. 12 1871.     I looked into the patent further,  it was filled by Osgood Plummer of Worchester, Mass. as an improvement to the towel rack.    Below is the patent drawing and description.  

On our way out I noticed this mint green enamel dutch oven and I just had to have it as well.   My mom mentioned it looked like something either a relative on my dad or her side had but she couldn't remember who.    We soon got the answer when I got back to my parent's house, where above their cabinets was a tea kettle from the same maker in blue from my father's grandmother.   My dad said I could have the tea kettle since it went with the dutch oven.     I researched a bit more and found both are Dru Holland enamelware, made in Holland.    The company went out of business in the 1970's.    Yellow Dru Holland is the oldest, from the 1930's, and considered more rare.   The blue is from the 1950's.    I'm guessing the mint green is from the 1940's or 60's but haven't been able to confirm yet.   I will definitely have to make a trip back to the store next time I am in town.